On Tuesday 1 July, HRH The Duke of Kent welcomed supporters of charity, Addenbrooke’s Abroad, to St James’s Palace for a reception to celebrate its work and achievements and to promote its ‘Make a World of Difference’ appeal.
Addenbrooke’s Abroad inspires, enables and supports the staff and students of Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals to volunteer their skills in resource-poor communities overseas. It is a charity that operates at no charge to the NHS under the umbrella of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.
Addenbrooke’s Abroad has three partnerships at a government level with Botswana, El Salvador and Myanmar (Burma), as well as many health-related projects in other countries. The ‘Make a World of Difference’ appeal aims to raise £100,000 to enable the charity to spread its international reach and send more volunteers overseas.
HRH The Duke of Kent hosted the evening because of his personal connection with the Princess Marina Hospital in Gabarone, Botswana, which is the focus of Addenbrooke’s Abroad’s most long-standing and developed global health programme. The hospital is named in honour of his late mother, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, who opened it in 1966.
Chair of Addenbrooke’s Abroad, Dame Mary Archer, said: “The evening was a wonderful occasion enjoyed at the splendid venue of St James’s Palace. We are most grateful to His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent for honouring us with his presence and to our generous sponsors who made the evening possible.
“Health volunteering brings reciprocal benefits: in the overseas communities in which Addenbrooke’s Abroad works, the aim is to bring sustainable improvements in healthcare capacity and practice; to our own community in Cambridge, returning volunteers bring the resourcefulness, new skills, better team working and heightened sense of vocation that working overseas has equipped them with.
“With the ‘Make a World of Difference’ appeal Addenbrooke’s Abroad aspires to further its reach, develop its partnerships and support more staff to volunteer their skills on the global stage.”
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To find out more about Addenbrooke’s Abroad call 01223 596439, email addabroad@addenbrookes.nhs.uk or go to www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/abroad
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